and a gentle version of Fleetwood Blood and Candle Smoke marks of the contenders would have to be Mac’s “Everywhere.” Her four a musical departure for Russell. “American River,” which paints originals are very good, and include Inspired by the soundtrack to I’m evocative pictures and scenes of the wistful “Bridge,” the Roches- Not There, the Todd Haynes mosaic majesty and power and the changing influenced “Rather Go,” the folky film on Dylan, Russell noted that nature of human interaction with “Saddest Sound,” and the upbeat, many of the standout songs by the rivers. Calling the rivers out story-song “Long Before.” the young, upcoming artists were by name, Russell notes that many 8 More finds Roche writing or backed by the group Calexico (Joey have been named after Indians, Burns, Tom Covertino, Jacob Valen- co-writing six tracks and turning “our guilt to assuage.” He goes zuela) working out of Wave Lab in in a surprisingly neat rendition of on to describe casinos, pollution, Tucson. It was to this group and Springsteen’s “Hungry Heart” that abandoned farmland, and bank- studio that Russell turned to find would not sound out of place on rupt towns. It’s both love song and a contemporary spark for his new one of her mother’s albums. There lament, and it would be very effec- songs. Other musicians contrib- is also a splendid cover of the Crash tive at a Riverkeepers fundraiser uting to the sound are Gretchen Test Dummies’ “Superman.” Her or festival. Another contender for Peters, with her gorgeous harmo- own “Snare Drum” shows some power track is “Guadalupe,” which nies; Barry Walsh on keyboards; the Russell calls “probably my favorite nice Lori McKenna influence and Oshogbo Orphan Choir; Nick Luka won the Independent Music Award song I’ve ever written.” Crafted dies (“Peace,” “Love Won’t Let Me on steel guitar; Marco Rosano on with a delicate hand and impeccable Gaucho for best folk/singer-songwriter saxophone; Chris Gambelucca on Deep Night Wait”), much of this is perfect for category. “Chicago” has a nice harmonies, the song is a subtle and bass; Winston Watson on drums; touching tour de force of introspec- Nichols Patrick self-released (2009) late night chillin.’ Includes a bonus electric-pop edge, “Spring Song” video, “The Making of Hammond’ and David Henry on cello. Co- tion, and the source of the album Catherine MacLellan - Gaucho is Spanish for an Argen- perfectly showcases her wistful Eggs,” pun intended. producer Craig Schumacher does title. “Crosses of San Carlos” is midnight seems dark tine cowboy, though old, graying singing with a very beautiful double duty on organ. also a “wow” song with its high rockers still remember it as being When he isn’t slinging guitar with melody, and “Poison” bears much When you listen to all three of and lonesome cowboy whoops and the title of Steely Dan’s 1980 block- the Crawdaddys, a band he co- of her father’s understated, cynical MacLellan’s recordings — chrono- its stark drum finish. “The Most buster release. Actually it’s more fronts with Greff, Chris Huntington brilliance. Though both of these logically, Church Bell Blues comes Dangerous Woman in America” is than that — it’s also a derivative of manages various musical acts, albums serve as extended demos, between Midnight and Water — the outlaw-on-the-run tale, tawdry the Gypsy/Romany word meaning one of which is the Higher Hands. listeners can eagerly anticipate there is almost a progression from Though many across the country and sad, yet a larger statement about dark to light in atmosphere. Not that “non-Gypsy man,” which totally Varshavsky Peter 2008 © hearing a fully produced project forces that lay us on a path to either fits here. Now, add the non-Gypsy play the funky soul card, the from her. MacLellan leans in either direction Gaucho - tea for two deuces Annapolis-based aggregation does it destiny or choice. — it seems, in keeping with the ensemble Gaucho, purveyors of Bay — Lahri Bond (Leverett, MA) Area Gypsy jazz, to the list of defini- Various artists reply, “Contestactión a Mujer distinctively. They combine tasteful, Russell writes a big song, and these conversational style of her work, bouncy rap with 70s funk and soul are among his very best. If you more a progression informed by tions. The group’s third disc shows Ballads & Corridos (1949-1975) Paseada,” recorded with her sister, jazz, in essence a delightful blending Tom Russell already know his work, this album what she’s thinking about, what she’s why it is a worthy ambassador of Arhoolie CD 367 (2009) Maria, as Las Hermanas Mendoza. the growing stateside movement: Though knowledge of Spanish is of new and old school. They pop Blood and Candle Smoke is a must. If he is new to you, you learning, and what parts of that she The borderlands between San chugging rhythms, fingers-dancing- helpful, transcriptions and transla- and sizzle with airtight horns and Shout! Factory 826663-11471 (2009) are in for a revelation. Russell is chooses to put into song. She clearly Antonio, Texas, and Monterrey, across-the-frets guitar solos, and tions of all of corridos are included percussion and have a tendency to With a four-decade career and certainly one of the best songwriters has the tools to take her music in Mexico, have long echoed with artful guitar-accordion interaction. on the CD. jam out intelligently without being more than 20 albums, it is surely this country has produced. whatever direction she desires; it’ll musical storytelling. The golden era Members use horns (clarinet, sax, self-indulgent, as evidenced by the a mystery why Tom Russell hasn’t — Colleen Moore (Baltimore, MD) be interesting to follow. of the region’s narrative balladry — Craig Harris (Chicopee, MA) baritone sax), though sparingly, delightful closing track, “Side of the achieved a massive following. For MacLellan is the daughter of the is explored by the 22 tracks that thus giving them a versatile three- Road.” The party starts with them, those who have discovered him, late Gene MacLellan, who wrote comprise Ballads & Corridos: 1949- Kraig Greff and it ends with them. Catherine pronged attack that’s predicated on there is no turning back. Russell is Blowfish “Snowbird,” a lasting hit for Anne 1975. Sung in Spanish, accompani- teamwork. Hammond’ Eggs — Dan Williging (Denver, CO) a cult hero with devoted acolytes MacLellan Murray. She is from Prince Edward ment is provided by accordion and Tonal Vision (2008) Tom Russell - Water in the Ground Island in Atlantic Canada and is Soft and breezy moodscapes and — a good enough place to be, but the most dangerous whoops in America the 12-string bass-like bajo sexton High Romance Music/True North better known in her native Canada carefree, sauntering compositions The Higher Hands less than he deserves. alternating between waltz-time and Lucy Wainwright TND 528 (2009), 2-CD than beyond its borders as yet. blossom into maximum beauty polkas. Songs cover a wide range: Grab Hold Roche Something of a songwriters’ song- The opening track, “East of Wood- — Kerry Dexter (Tallahassee, FL) (“Two Deuces”). “Dark Eyes” revs We hear about early 20th-century self-released (2008) 8 Songs writer, his songs have been covered stock, West of Vietnam,” is an auto- Catherine up slowly, then accelerates into characters such as Mexican revo- When he’s not serenading cows self-released (2007) by Johnny Cash, Iris DeMent, Nanci biographical reflection of his time MacLellan a near frenzy. Though they cover lutionary Pedro Zamora and Arturo in Texas with his accordion (as Griffith, Guy Clark, and Dave Van working in Nigeria. The African Church Bell Blues Klezmer Juice vintage swing (“Tea for Two”) Garza Trevino, a small-time gang- depicted in Dirty Linen #131), the Lucy Wainwright Ronk, among many, many others. setting is backed with a mariachi High Romance Music/True North 2 and New Orleans gutbucket jazz ster who died in a car crash; Belen Crawdaddys’ Kraig Greff pursues Roche Russell has perhaps been typecast as foundation to striking effect. In TND 502 (2008) ARC Music EUCD 2209 (2009) (“Darktown Strutter’s Ball,” “St. Galindo, who murders her husband other endeavors such as this 8 More a Western Americana artist, but he theory, it shouldn’t work, but it Catherine MacLellan has been Klezmer Juice may be a bit of a Louis Blues”), they avoid the after three days of marriage; and two Hammond B-3 jazz affair. Unlike self-released (2008) is no more just that than Springsteen does, brilliantly. “Criminology” is gaining quite a bit of notice in her misnomer for this group. The group omnipresent selections commonly accounts of a murder by gunslingers a lot of Hammond platters these Singer/songwriter Lucy Wainwright is merely the voice of New Jersey or also set in Africa, but to a reggae native Canada in the last several does indeed play klezmer, but it’s performed by other ensembles. hired by a wealthy landowner. The days, this one refuses to go straight Roche is the daughter of Suzzy Leonard Cohen represents only the beat. Russell sings this one in a years, drawing comparisons to ultimately fabulous festive music Instead, another set of tunes, balladeers reach beyond the region for the funky party line jugular. Roche (the Roches) and Loudon Canadian experience. The literary higher register, sounding quite fellow Canadian musician Joni of wide appeal. The group’s lineup “Bossa Dorado,” “Noto Swing,” with songs about Martin Luther Instead, it’s a tasty modern jazz Wainwright III. Naturally, Roche is allusions fly so fast that while you unlike himself.